Improved process of cleaning metallic articles for plating and gilding



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GEORGE J'. STURDY AND SOLOMON W. YOUNG, OF PROVlDENCE,

. RHODE lSLAND.

Letters Patent No. 87,442, dated. M (web. 2, 1869.

IMPROVED PROCESS OF CLEANING METALL IC ARTICLES FOR PLATING- AND GILDING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it "known that we, G-nonen J. STURDY and SoLo- MON W. YOUXG, of Providence, in the county of Providence, and State of Rhodc Island, have invented a new and improved Process for Preparing Metallic.

Articles for Gliding and Plating; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, .whiun will-enable others ski-lied in I the art to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to a. new and improved process fi)r tinishing,tbr gilding or plating, a-rions metallic -articles, as hooks and eyes, buttons, eyelets, and all metallic articles of a similar nature; and i It consists in revolving o'r agitating such articles (after placing them in'a suitable vessel or cylinder-yin a solution of cyanide of potassium, or in any equivalent a] (aline' solution, without the use of an acid or acids, in the manner and for t-hepurpose hereinafter described.

-Hitherto such articles" have been prepared ,forgild:

ing or plating, by means of acid-baths, as nitric, sul-' phuric, or other equivalent acids. This method is objectionable on many accounts. In the tirst place, the quantity of acid required renders it expensive, when compared with our new process in the second, the ac tion' of the acid upon the surface of the metal is far from being as effective in removing the oxide and other impurities as that of the dilute cyanide of potassium; "and, thirdly,while the acid, from its greater specific gravity or density, holds the removed oxide in suspension, thereby allowing -it to come in contact with the surface of the articles, abrading and roughening them, or loosely adhering thereto, by the use of the cyanide of potassium, the oxide is dissolved, a new chemical action takesplace, the surface of the article is left clean,

every particular.

in carrying out our invention, and preparing the articles for gilding or plating, we place them in a cylinder or other suitable vessel, and cover them with a solution of the cyanide of potassium. The cylinder or vessel is rovolved'or agitated until the articles are perfectly clean and bright, after which they are ready for gildingor plating.

Revolving or agitating the articles in the cylinder or vessel, keeps the surface clean, the oxide is dissolved, and all foreign substances are removed, without oxidizing the metal as much as the acid-bath. By this process, the articles are left in splendid condition for gilding or platin".

Having thus describcdjour invention, 1

\Ve claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. For cleaning, burnishing, or polishing metallic articles, (as books and eyes, but-tons, cycle-ts, and other articles of metal, in prcparing them for gilding 0r plating,) revolving, shaking, or agitating such articles in a. cylinder or other suitable vessel, when immersed in a solution of cyanide of potassium, substantially as described.

2. Preparing metallic articles for gilding or plating, by means of a mechanical and chemical process ombined, substantially as described.

GEO b. 3E J. STURDY. SOLOMON W. YOUNG.

)Yitncsscs HExm' Mai-aria, S'rnvnxs BECKWITH.

smooth, and bright, and the process made perfect in 

